Nelson had offer from Harvard, but chose Red Raiders

Saturday

Aug 16, 2014 at 9:46 PM

NICHOLAS TALBOT

The first few plays went away from Justis Nelson.

But Oklahoma State was driving, pushing to ball to the 10-yard line. That's when Desmond Roland broke free. The Cowboys running back was about to score when Texas Tech linebacker Micah Awe caught him by the foot.

And Nelson was right there this time, jumping on Roland and helping to bring him down inches from the goal line.

"(That first game) was nerve wracking. It was a big change with all the people yelling and all the eyes on me," the Red Raider defensive back said.

"I felt energetic after that - it was my first tackle in the Big 12."

The Cowboys scored on the next play and went up 21-0.

But Nelson, only a freshman at the time, had arrived.

He played throughout the second quarter and then sparingly in the second half, and he was the 12th true freshman to see playing time for Kliff Kingsbury last season.

Nelson, though, could have chosen a different path. The tall, but skinny defensive back had other options coming out of Dallas Christian, where his graduating class was only 65 strong.

Nelson could have gone to Colgate. He could have gone to the Air Force and he even could have gone to Harvard.

But instead he chose Texas Tech.

"It was definitely a big change. There were a lot of people that even at my school that were like 'I don't know if he would do good in a D-I,' because of the size and the speed difference.

"That is why I wanted to prove people wrong and one of the reasons I wanted to choose Tech."

Earning his keep

A year earlier, Nelson and Dallas Christian were on their way to destroying Bishop Gorman 49-0.

Nelson had two catches for 36 yards and a touchdown, two tackles and one pass breakup.

It was an easy win. But there might have been 300 people in the crowd. And maybe half of that by halftime when the Chargers had already scored seven times.

And while recruiting is becoming easier with internet sites like Hudl, Nelson flew under the radar, being recruited by Air Force and Ivy league schools.

It didn't bother him. Nelson was determined to prove people wrong wherever he went.

"The whole two star, three star thing (it doesn't matter) ... If you want it bad enough, take advantage of the opportunities (you're given)," Nelson said. "You can come from anywhere. It doesn't matter. As long as you have the will, then you will be able to do what you want to do."

It took him 10 games.

Nelson's redshirt was removed during his freshman season in Tech's 10th game (against No. 12 Oklahoma State).

"(When I came to Tech) I was 15 or 17 pounds lighter, and I am still not the biggest guy out there," Nelson said. "(The toughest adjustment was) just the speed. ... I felt like I was a little further behind, but going through that change at a quick pace and just playing ... I felt like it helped me get through it easily."

Eventually, Nelson played in five games - starting three - registering 11 tackles, one interception and four pass deflections.

His biggest game came when Tech needed it most. He had three tackles and had his first interception as the Red Raiders went on to a 37-23 upset against No. 14 Arizona State in the Holiday Bowl at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, breaking a five-game losing streak.

"I feel like Justis had the talent, but it was the mindset," Tech sophomore free safety Keenon Ward said. "Now he is more confident, and that is going to help him. If you think you can do it, then you can. I feel like Justis feels like he can make plays, and I feel like he will this year."

As Tech enters the season with question marks all along its defense, Nelson is trying to differentiate himself from a crowded group at cornerback - a position where the Red Raiders lost three seniors who combined for 23 starts last season.

"Since he has experience and he is confident, we are looking for big things from him this year," Tech junior strong safety J.J. Gaines said.

Making the decision

Nelson was sitting with his mother, Sherryl Scott, talking about the decision he had in front of him - Harvard or Texas Tech.

One was far away from home but could give him an educational opportunity few could pass up. The other would make him a Football Bowl Subdivision football player.

His father, Marshall Nelson, had been pushing for Harvard.

"My dad really wanted me to go to Harvard, but he kind of kept that to himself," said Nelson, who is majoring in criminology and wants to follow in his parents' footsteps and head into law enforcement when he graduates. "He let me make my own choice, and my mom was just as happy for me choosing Tech. They gave me a choice, and I am glad they let me make my own decisions."

Marshall Nelson said: "I was (for Harvard). But, in the end, I was for whatever he wanted. It is somewhat of a rarity for an African-American man to get an opportunity to attend Harvard. ... But I was sure that he was going to be a success wherever he went, so I was pleased that he chose Texas Tech."

On July 24, 2012, he made up his mind.

He was headed to Lubbock.

"He is a good kid and he has a good head on his shoulders. ... Of course we talked about the benefits of going to Harvard," said Scott, who was with the Dallas police department for 32 years. "He said, 'I know you want me to be successful, and I know at Harvard I will be. But I am going to be successful anywhere I go. It might just take a little more time.'

"What can you say? You can't argue with that. He was excited about being a Red Raider."

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